Vehicle audio system capable of playing wireless audio data received from a mobile audio player

Abstract

An audio system for use in a vehicle is set forth. The audio system comprises one or more loudspeakers of the vehicle and a receiver operating to receive digital data in first and second digital audio data formats. The first digital audio data format corresponds to a format used by a mobile audio device to wirelessly transmit digital audio stored on the mobile audio device. The second digital audio data format corresponds to a wireless audio data transmission format that differs from the first digital audio data format. The receiver may operate in multiple routing modes. In a first routing mode, the receiver responds to the receipt of digital data in the first digital audio data format by routing the digital data through the audio system for ultimate output as analog audio at the loudspeakers. The receiver operates in a second routing mode in response to receiving digital data in the second digital audio data format to route digital data in the second digital audio data format through the system for ultimate output as analog audio at the loudspeakers. The receiver may automatically switch between the first routing mode and the second routing mode based on whether digital data received by the receiver is in the first or second digital audio data format. Further, the audio system may be configured so that the second routing mode has priority over the first routing mode with respect to ultimate output at the loudspeakers. In one example, the first digital audio format is a Bluetooth audio format while the second digital audio format comprises a Bluetooth hands-free communications format.

1 . An audio system for use in a vehicle comprising: 
 one or more loudspeakers disposed in the vehicle;    a receiver operating to receive digital data in first and second digital audio data formats, the first digital audio data format corresponding to a format used by a mobile audio device to wirelessly transmit digital audio stored on the mobile audio device, the second digital audio data format differing from the first digital audio data format;    where the receiver operates in a first routing mode in response to receiving digital data in the first digital audio data format to route digital data in the first digital audio data format for ultimate output as audio at the one or more loudspeakers; and    where the receiver operates in a second routing mode in response to receiving digital data in the second digital audio data format to route digital data in the second digital audio data format for ultimate output as audio at the one or more loudspeakers.    
     
     
         2 . The audio system of  claim 1  where the second routing mode has priority over the first routing mode with respect to ultimate output at the one or more loudspeakers.  
     
     
         3 . The audio system of  claim 2  and further comprising a storage device, the receiver routing digital data in the first digital audio data format, if present, to the storage device when the receiver is in the second routing mode.  
     
     
         4 . The audio system of  claim 1  where the receiver automatically switches between the first routing mode and the second routing mode based on whether digital data received by the receiver is in the first or second digital audio data format.  
     
     
         5 . The audio system of  claim 1  where the second digital audio data format comprises a digital audio data format used to communicate with a component of a hands-free vehicle phone system.  
     
     
         6 . The audio system of  claim 1  where the second digital audio format comprises a Bluetooth hands-free communications format.  
     
     
         7 . The audio system of  claim 6  where the first digital audio format comprises a Bluetooth audio format.  
     
     
         8 . A system for use in a vehicle comprising: 
 a mobile audio device capable of wirelessly transmitting digital audio data in a first digital audio data format;    a communication device capable of wirelessly transmitting digital audio data in a second digital audio data format that is different from the first digital audio data format;    a vehicle audio system fixed within the vehicle;    a transceiver disposed in the vehicle and operating to receive digital audio data in the first and second digital audio data formats, the transceiver cooperating with the vehicle audio system to provide audio corresponding to the first digital audio data format through the vehicle audio system when digital audio data in the first digital audio format is received.    
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8  where the first digital audio format comprises a format selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth technology, Wireless Local Area Network technology, and infrared technology.  
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 8  where the communication device is a mobile phone.  
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 8  where the transceiver is directed by a user to receive the digital audio data transmitted by the mobile audio device.  
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 8  where the transceiver cooperates with the vehicle audio system to provide audio corresponding to the second digital audio data format through the vehicle audio system when digital audio data in the second digital audio format is received while preventing output of audio corresponding to concurrently transmitted digital audio data in the first digital audio data format.  
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 8  and further comprising a storage unit, where the storage unit operates to store the digital audio data transmitted by the mobile audio device.  
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 8  and further comprising a storage unit, where the storage unit operates to store the digital audio data transmitted by the mobile audio device whenever the transceiver is receiving digital audio data in the second digital audio data format.  
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 13  where the storage unit is manually operated to store the audio data transmitted by the mobile audio device.  
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 13  where the storage unit stores the digital audio data transmitted by the mobile audio device when the transceiver communicates with a mobile phone using the second digital audio data format.  
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 13  where the vehicle audio system outputs audio corresponding to the digital audio data transmitted by the mobile audio device at a reduced volume in response to a predetermined condition.  
     
     
         18 . A method for operating a vehicle audio system comprising: 
 locally receiving wirelessly transmitted digital audio data in a first digital audio format from a mobile audio device and in a second digital audio format from a further audio transmitter, and    automatically routing digital audio data received in either the first or second digital audio data formats for output of corresponding audio through one or more speakers of the vehicle audio system in response to a predetermined condition.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  where the wirelessly transmitted audio data is transmitted using a wireless technologies selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth technology, Wireless Local Area Network technology, and infrared technology.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18  where receiving the wirelessly transmitted audio data is initiated by a user.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18  where the predetermined condition comprises whether the received digital audio data is in the first or second digital audio data formats, and where routing of digital audio data in the second digital audio format is prioritized for corresponding audio output through the one or more speakers over digital audio data in the first digital audio format.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 18  further comprising storing the wirelessly transmitted audio data received by the transceiver in a storage device.